H.S. Swimming: Wooster wanted big wins, got them

WOOSTER — A decisive win was just what the Wooster High boys and girls swimming and diving teams were looking for.

And there was no better place to capture it than in the Generals’ home opener against Perry Wednesday evening at Ellen Shapiro Natatorium as the girls beat the Panthers 120-59 and boys won 120-63.

"It’s good to get a nice win like that because we struggled against Firestone," said Wooster coach Chris Matthew, whose teams both lost to the Falcons in their recent season opener. "Boardman, we were down one kid and the girls ... it’s hard with a quad once you get behind."

In this past Saturday’s Northeast Aquatic Conference quad at Warren G. Harding, the Generals got past the host school and Canfield, but settled for second to Boardman on both sides.

"Tonight we got we got a good idea of some things and kids were getting their confidence back," said Matthew. "The kids who have been around know it’s a process, it’s a season.

"I don’t expect them to get their best times all the time. If they get one that’s great, but you can’t swim them when you’re training hard."

The Generals have been training hard, but Wednesday they figured out how to get the job done.

The Wooster boys took first in all 12 events, while the girls grabbed gold in all but three — Perry’s Grace Porrini won the 1-meter diving, while Sierra Searfoss was first in the 100-yard butterfly and Natalie Darnell won the 500 freestyle.

"They’re a very motivated young group of kids so we’re definitely looking bright for the future," said Perry coach Grant Gillilan. "We’re really looking forward to the postseason, so we’re not expecting to see some fast times — but we had a lot of PRs today, which is awesome."

The Wooster girls completed a sweep of all three places in three events — the 200 individual medley, the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke. Wooster junior Min Kim picked up three first-place finishes in the 200 IM, 100 back and in the 200 medley relay along with Audrey Cochran, Sydney Graham and Holly Miller.

Julia Hootman, Maddy Murphy, Cochran and Miller won the 200 free relay and Murphy, Miller, Michelle Sibilia and Hootman capped off the night with a 10-second victory in the 400 free relay.

Individually, Murphy won the 200 free, Sibilia was first in the 100 free and Miller touched first in the 50 free.

Cochran, a freshman, won the 100 breast in a personal best time, while still adjusting to the tasking high school training schedule.

"It’s been really exhausting, but I think it’ll all pay off and we’ll have a really good season," she said. "You’ve just got to give your all every time. You can’t give up, you’ve just got to push through."

Wooster’s Tim Fritts, Jaden Boucher, Andrew Cochran and Parker Suggs started off the dual with a victory in the 200 medley relay, while Tyler Foster, Patrick Parker, Benjamin Cornelius and Thomas Matthew combined for the win in the 200 free relay. Cornelius, Parker, Suggs and Matthew returned for a first-place finish in the 400 free relay.

Foster, also a diver, won the 50 free right before turning around to compete on the spring board. He came in first, while Ian Michaud was second for the Generals. Freshman Alyssa Foster, the only full-time diver on the girls team, picked up second-place points.

Matthew was first to the wall in the 200 free by 17 seconds and also took first in the 100 back.

Wooster’s Cameron Balas won the 100 breast, Benjamin Serafinchon was the victor in the 100 fly, while Kyle Ward took first in the 100 free and Park went the distance for the win in the 500 free.

"There were some really great swims," said Matthew. "They’re learning how to race and getting in shape. Most of our kids don’t swim year-round so a lot of them have not swum since February.

"They know the end goal is the end of the season and they’re working really hard."